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Jeanne Becu Comtess du Barry
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Jeanne Becu Comtess du Barry
JEANNE BECU, COMTESSE DU BARRY (1746-1793) Paris shopgirl who became mistress to Louis XV : guillotined in the course of the Revolution Date: circa 1770
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Media ID 14264513
© Mary Evans Picture Library
1770 Barry Becu Comtesse Course Guillotined Jeanne Mistress Revolution Shopgirl Bovinet
EDITORS COMMENTS
In this portrait, Jeanne Becu, later known as the Comtesse du Barry, is depicted in her youthful beauty and elegance, around the year 1770. Born in Paris as the illegitimate daughter of a shopkeeper, Becu rose to become the favorite mistress of King Louis XV, defying the social norms of the time. The Comtesse du Barry's story began when she was employed as a shopgirl in a milliner's shop in Paris. Her striking appearance and charm caught the attention of the Duke of Orléans, who arranged for her to be introduced to the King. Louis XV was immediately taken with the young woman, and she became his official mistress in 1768. The Comtesse du Barry's influence at the French Court was significant, and she was known for her extravagant lifestyle and generous patronage of the arts. However, her position was not without controversy. Her relationship with the King was a source of scandal, and her perceived influence over him was a point of contention for many in the French nobility. As the French Revolution gained momentum, the Comtesse du Barry became a target for the radicals. She was arrested in 1793 and put on trial on charges of treason and corruption. Despite her attempts to defend herself, she was found guilty and sentenced to death by guillotine. The image of the Queen of Hearts from the Revolution, as she came to be known, was a tragic figure whose rise to power and subsequent downfall serve as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of history. This portrait, captured around the height of her power and influence, offers a glimpse into the life of a woman who defied the odds and left an indelible mark on French history.
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